Electricity & electrical appliances

Electric Kettle

• Don't boil more water than you need. Use a kettle that switches off automatically when the water has boiled.

Washing Machine

• Choose the right size of washing machine for your needs.
• Front-loading, horizontal axis washers use less water and energy than top-loading vertical axis units.
• Wait until you have a full load before washing - a half load uses the same amount of energy as a full load.
• Use a low-temperature wash cycle as far as possible, and don't use too much detergent.
• A high-speed spin cycle saves energy in drying, especially if you also use a tumble dryer.

Tumble Dryer

• Whenever possible, hang-dry your washing outside.
• When buying a tumble dryer, choose a model with a moisture sensor and automatic stop feature.
• Clean the lint filter before each load.
• Do not overload: this blocks the airflow and drastically reduces drying efficiency. It's helpful to sort clothes and other items according to their thicknesses, then dry them in batches.
• Remove and fold or hang all items as soon as the dryer stops, to prevent wrinkling and reduce your ironing requirements.
• Remember that on very humid days, getting your clothes bone dry is a waste of time, as they will just get damp again.